A new Lackawaxen River access is being dedicated at White Mills on Friday

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·3 min read
The Lackawaxen River boat access at White Mills is to be officially dedicated October 27.
The Lackawaxen River boat access at White Mills is to be officially dedicated October 27.

The new river access on the Lackawaxen River at White Mills is complete, all except the formal dedication slated for Friday, Oct. 27.

It is the second of four improved river accesses from Honesdale to Hawley to be finished as part of the Lackawaxen River Trail system.

The Wayne County commissioners and the Lackawaxen River Trails group announced the event marking the official opening of what is the first county-led public river access on the Lackawaxen River.

The first public access, hosted by the Lackawaxen River Trails group in Hawley Borough, did not involve the county government. It opened in 2020, off Park Place in Bingham Park. That access was a project of the trails group and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), with approval of the borough.

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, PFBC Executive Director Tim Schaeffer and PFBC Board President William Gibney are scheduled to join the commissioners, state and local elected officials and others who helped on the project.

The dedication takes place at 11 a.m. Friday. The access is next to the White Mills ball field, now known as the Sports Factory of NEPA Factory Field. The entrance is on White Mills Road across from the Sports Factory and New Wave Custom Woodworking, the building historically known as "Chroma Tube" for its original purpose.

“Congratulations to everyone who has been a part of bringing this river trail to reality,” Dunn said in a press release. “The Lackawaxen River has been an economic backbone over two centuries, from early logging through the building of the canal and transporting coal. Now, this river trail will connect people to nature, recreational opportunities, communities, history, businesses, and so much more.”

The Lackawaxen River access at White Mills, being dedicated October 27, is a project of the Wayne County Commissioners and Lackawaxen River Trails, funded by a state grant. It the second of four improved river access points to be completed from Honesdale to Hawley.
The Lackawaxen River access at White Mills, being dedicated October 27, is a project of the Wayne County Commissioners and Lackawaxen River Trails, funded by a state grant. It the second of four improved river access points to be completed from Honesdale to Hawley.

“We received DCNR support to fund a trail feasibility study which was released in 2020,” said Wayne County Commissioner Brian Smith. “Not only did the study show that river and land trails are feasible, the public survey found 93% of respondents support the multi-purpose trail concept. Our residents, visitors, and businesses are excited to see this come to fruition.”

The access includes a boat ramp, walkway, benches, trash receptacles and a restroom.

DCNR and PFBC partnered to fund grants sought by Wayne County commissioners for three river access sites. Two others will be constructed next year, one in Honesdale Borough where the Lackawaxen River bends at the former Industrial Point, and one in Indian Orchard, Texas Township.

Local support is seen as an essential part of this river trail, with matching funds through the county and from local foundations, businesses, and individuals, the press release noted.

Lackawaxen River Trails brings together existing and proposed trail systems in the river corridor under one entity. This multi-use trail concept includes hiking trails on land, a river trail for paddling, and a proposed foot trail alongside the railroad track. The vision is to extend this recreational trail system from Honesdale to Lackawaxen. Wayne & Pike Trails & Waterways Alliance, a nonprofit organization, generates funding and oversees the development of Lackawaxen River Trails.

Read more about Lackawaxen River Trails at lackawaxenrivertrails.org.

Benches, trash receptacles, a walkway and restroom accompany the boat ramp at the new White Mills Lackawaxen River access, being dedicated Oct. 27.
Benches, trash receptacles, a walkway and restroom accompany the boat ramp at the new White Mills Lackawaxen River access, being dedicated Oct. 27.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lackawaxen River Trails: New boat access ready at White Mills